Schedule & Agenda

Agenda
- Monday Feb 26, 2024
- Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
- 8:45 AM – 9:15 AM
-
Investing to Meet the Evolving Customer: A Conversation with IKEA
IKEA is expanding its US presence with a significant investment to enable customers to shop and experience IKEA in more ways. This conversation will discuss the realities of this omnichannel vision coupled with the essential changes to the supply chain required to achieve connection to customers and drive the IKEA mission to support people and the planet.- Moderator
-
Ylan Mui
Managing DirectorPenta Group
- Speakers
-
Tanja Dysli
Chief Supply Chain OfficerIKEA US
-
Javier Quinones
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Sustainability OfficerIKEA US
- Location
- Texas Ballroom
- 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
-
The U.S. National Transportation Decarbonization Blueprint and The Role of Retail Supply Chain Collaboration
Join to hear the latest from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office about the DOT National Transportation Decarbonization Blueprint and the role it outlines for Medium- and Heavy-Duty (MHD) freight. The session will touch federal investments in deploying zero-emission freight technology and infrastructure, including seven regional commercial zero-emission freight corridor planning grants, and how federal government analysis and resources will help inform prioritization of investments, planning, utility growth and deployment of charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Reckitt will also speak about how their company is approaching transportation emissions reduction, and the importance of shipping leaning in on collaboration and public-private partnership opportunities in this emerging area.- Speakers
-
Eddy Bialostozky
Head of Functional Excellence, North America LogisticsReckitt
-
Michael Laughlin
Technology Manager for Technology Integration Program, Vehicle Technologies OfficeU.S. Department of Energy
-
Frank Zambrelli
Managing Director | ESG RetailAccenture
- Location
- Grapevine A
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
-
Sustainability Committee Meeting - Invite Only
This is a private meeting for RILA members on the Sustainability Committee.- Location
- Ft. Worth 5
- 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
-
Responsible Play: A Conversation with Kyle Cline, VP of Sourcing, Packing and Engineering at Melissa & Doug
Join for a conversation with Kyle Cline, VP of Sourcing, Packaging & Engineering at Melissa & Doug about the business benefits of prioritizing supply chain sustainability commitments that support the long-term resilience of brand supply chains. As the top preschool brand for wooden toys, the need to ensure long-term access to key raw materials and deliver on customer satisfaction have led Melissa & Doug to establish public commitments to responsible forest management and sourcing, carbon neutrality, durable design, and inclusivity. Learn how to prioritize – rather than trying to do it all – and how the right corporate responsibility activities support resilient supply chain relationships and a profitable business.- Speakers
-
Kyle Cline
Vice President Global Sourcing, Engineering, Packaging and DC QualityMelissa & Doug
-
Erin Hiatt
Vice President, CSRRILA
- Location
- Grapevine A
- 3:45 PM – 4:25 PM
-
Navigating the Turbulent Geopolitical Landscape
The new demands placed on retailers have led supply chain leaders to recalibrate their supply chains from creating greater resiliency to reevaluating source countries. This session will provide insight into major geopolitical challenges and the strategic considerations retail supply chain leaders will need to evaluate as they plan for the future.- Moderator
-
Sally Gilligan
Chief Supply Chain, Strategy & Transformation OfficerGap Inc.
- Speaker
-
Richard Haass
President EmeritusCouncil on Foreign Relations
- Location
- Texas Ballroom
- 9:35 AM – 10:15 AM
-
Strong Ecosystem Partnerships: Collaborative Planning to Tackle Big Challenges
Retailers are leveraging deep partnerships across the supply chain ecosystem to take on their most difficult challenges. This conversation will focus on how collaborative planning and partnership can enable better movement of product, enhanced data sharing, and progress in achieving sustainability goals.- Moderator
-
Brian Dodge
PresidentRILA
- Speakers
-
Raina Avalon
Executive Vice President & Chief Logistics OfficerThe TJX Companies, Inc.
-
Katie Farmer
President and Chief Executive OfficerBNSF Railway
-
Shelley Simpson
PresidentJ.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
- Location
- Texas Ballroom
- 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM 2 Concurrent Events
-
Accelerating Your Transportation Emissions Data Journey (Followed by Lunch Roundtables)
Whether your company is just ramping up efforts at tracking transportation emissions or looking for ways to improve accuracy and reliability of data, you’ll benefit from participating in this discussion with fellow retailers—and industry experts like EPA SmartWay and the Smart Freight Centre’s Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC). Discuss what’s working and what needs improvement with tools and practices retailers (and their partners) are using on the journey to comprehensively assess their transportation footprints and identify collaboration opportunities with carrier and industry partners. Stick around for lunch discussion tables with peers and experts on all things emissions measurement and reduction.- Speakers
-
Shwetha Balagali
Senior Manager Logistics Capabilities, North AmericaUnilever
-
Katy Evans
Sustainability ManagerJCPenney
-
Alan Lewis
Technical Director, Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC)Smart Freight Centre
-
Buddy Polovick
Team LeaderU.S. EPA Smartway
- Location
- Grapevine D
-
Retailer-Only Roundtable: Disruption in the Red Sea and Suez Canal
Ongoing attacks in the Red Sea have led to widespread disruption and delays in the retail supply chain. Join fellow retailers to discuss the impacts and logistical challenges presented by the volatility in the Red Sea, and how shippers are responding. Roundtables will be conducted under the Chatham House Rule and moderated by a retailer to facilitate a meaningful conversation on an important topic. This session is only available to retail and consumer product manufacturer attendees. Limited to 30 eligible attendees.- Speakers
-
Paul Cox
Vice President, Global Transportation & LogisticsTupperware Brands Corporation
-
Tim Hemmert
Head of Global Transportation, Trade Compliance, Sustainability and Logistics Brand OpsGap Inc.
- Location
- Ft. Worth 2
- 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
-
Sustainability Lunch Roundtables
All attendees are welcome to join lunch roundtables with supply chain sustainability thought leader speakers from throughout the LINK event. Roundtable topics: EPA SmartWay, Smart Freight Centre, Emissions (Unilever), Maritime Emissions (ZEMBA), Scope 3 - Category 11 Emissions (Optera), Freight Decarbonization (DOE).- Location
- Grapevine D
- 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
-
Enhancing Community Engagement through Retailer and Supplier Diversity Partnerships
Seeking and building on stakeholder feedback are key tenets of successful supplier diversity and ESG programs. This session will present a variety of successful joint retailer and supplier programs used to strengthen community ties while building positive brand awareness. We will explore important considerations when partnering with suppliers to achieve the co-benefits of strengthening retailer and supplier relationships, developing customer insights, attracting and retaining talent, promoting diversity and inclusion, and advancing the organization’s purpose and values.- Speakers
-
Dirk Cockrum
Managing DirectorFORVIS
-
Shequeita Orr Frazier
Senior Director, Enterprise GrowthTarget Corporation
-
Antoine Hinton
Director of Supplier DiversityDollar General
-
Ali Mize
Senior Director, ESG, Belonging, and Corporate PhilanthropyThe Neiman Marcus Group
- Location
- Grapevine C
All times listed in Eastern Time (EDT). Schedule Subject to Change.

2025 Speakers
LINK features retailer-led breakouts and round tables, inspiring Keynotes, general sessions, and startup pitches. View our speakers!
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Hosted Retailers & CPMs Program
New for 2025, we’ve introduced a groundbreaking new Hosted Retailers & CPMs Program to unlock incredible new opportunities for retailers/consumer product manufacturers and participating solution providers.
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Bring Your Team
With over 2,000 retail supply chain leaders in one place, LINK is the perfect event to bring together your team and connect with carriers, vendors and other key partners.
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